Variable speed transmission



June 6, 1933.

H. L.. PROUT VARIABLE SPEED TRANSMISSION Filed Deo. 2 Sheets-Sheet l [n1/en tor HERBERT L. PROUT June 6, 1933. H. 1 PROUT VARIABLE SPEED TRANSMISSlON Fild Dec. 3, 1952 2 sheets-sheet '2 .7m/antw' vHERBERT L. PROUT Patented `inne 6,- 1933 PATENT OFFICE HERBERT L. PROUT, F VILLA PARK, ILLINOIS VARIABLE SPEED `zimuvsiurssroiv Application filed December 3, 1932. Serial No. 645,574.

This invention relates to variable speed transmissionsin which the speed\ of a driven or output shaft can be varied relatlve to that ofthe driving or input shaft. U

3 In variable speed transmissions, 1t 1s des1rable that the speedv of the output shaft be `substantially uniform but adjustably var1able from zero up to a desired maxlmum, or from a low speed up to a considerably h1gher speed. It is also generally desirable that the .maximum speed of the output shaft should be. considerably less than the inp'ut speed. The mechanism should also be of simple construction with few moving parts, so as to reduce the wear and replacement` costs and increase the power transmitting efficiency.

An object-of this vinvention therefore, is to provide a variable speed transmission 1n which the output shaft rotates wlth a substantially uniform speed which is variable' at will,but lat all times less than the speed ofthe input shaft.

Another object of the invention is to provide a variable speed transmission which is as simple and rugged as possible; also to improve power transmission mechanism in other respects hereinafter specified and claimed. l

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which f Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation throu lh the variable speed transmission showin t e ad justable parts in position to pro uce zero speed in the output shaft.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 vbut with the adjustable parts in position to produce maximum speed in the output shaft.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of thetransmission mechanism with the case cover removed.

'F ig. 4 is a sectional viewj through the mechanism taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a view Vthrough the mechanism,

patly ,inv section, taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 6 is a sectional view through the mechanism taken on line 6.-6 of Fig. 1,

The. improved variable .speed mechanism consists essentially of a driving or input shaft 10 and a driven or output shaft 11 which are rotatably mounted in suitable' bearings, 14,

which are supported in the case or cast metal container 13. The bearings 14 may be plain` or of ball or roller type, and so constructe` as to prevent oil in the case 13 from working out past the bearings as the mechanism is operated. The end 15 of the shaft 10 is provided with a sprocket, gear, 4or other means, p not shown, for connecting to a source of power, such ask an electric motor. The end 16 of shaft 11 is provided with a sprocket, 60 i gear or other means for connecting to a machine to be driven with a variable speed.

A pair of cams 17, preferably of identical shape, are rigidly `mounted on shaft 10 in spaced relation, one of said cams being in adyance of the other cam. The direction of rotation of the shaft 10 and cam 17 is indicated by the arrow. The rising portions of these cams 17 extend over more than 180 of the periphery, and the falling portions over less than 180 so that the rising, or power -strol re,'of one cam will continue in action until the' rising portion of4N the other cam comes into position to assume the load, thus imparting a continuous ,and uninterrupted rotation of the output shaft 11'by a mechanism to be hereinafter described. The cams 17 have hubs 20 which engage the inside of. the bearings 14 so as to space the shaft 10 relative toV the' case walls 13 and prevent axial movement of said shaft. The inside of the hubs 20 are spaced apart so as to leave vroom for the hub of a bell crank lever 22,

which is rotatabl mounted. for rocking movement on the s aft 10.

One arm 23 of the bell crank lever 22 is. provided at its outer end with a laterally extending, elongated hub 24 (Fig. 4)`through which passes a pivot pin 25. n

oscillating lever or member 26 is pivotally mounted` on each end of the pin 25, being restrained from axial movement on the pin 25 by cotter pins 27. Each of the members 26 is provided on one edge with an arcuate recess 28 and plates 29 are secured, one on each side of the lever 26 adjacent the recess 28, as by rivets 30. Af pin 31 passes through the plates 29, the ends of pin 31 being provided with upset ends to secure said pin to'said plates, (Fig. 6). An' idler roller 32 is rotatably mounted on -each ed to engage with an idler clutch roller mounted on a clutch lever 46.

A pair of one way clutches 35 are mounted on the shaft 11 Jfor operating alternately and causing the shaft 11 to rotate at a substan- -tially uniform speed. Each of the clutches 35 comprises a collar k36. having a hub 37 which is rotatably mounted on the shaft lfl. An annular flange 38 is formed around the i periphery of the collar 36 and is provided with an internal, hardened, steel bushing 39. A clutch spider 40 is rigidly secured to the shaft 11, as by a key 41. A plurality of wedge recesses 42 are formed around the periphery of the spider 40 and a hard metal ball or roller 43 is movably positioned in each of the recesses 42. A spring 44 is seated in each of a plurality of holes 45 formed in the spider 40 adjacent the recesses 42, cachot1 said springs engaging its corresponding ball so as to urge said ball in wedging or clutching engagement between the bushings 39 and the chordal metallic surface of the recess 42 when the flange 38 is rotated in a clockwise direction (Fig. l) about the shaft 11, but -to release from wedging engagement when flange 38 is rotated in a counter clockwise direction. A washer 40a shaped to iit the relcesses in spider 40, is provided vbetween the `flanges 38 in order to vseparate the balls 43in each clutch. A radially extending lever 46 is formed on each of the collars 36 and is provided at the outer end thereof with a pin 47 which rotatably supports one of the rollers 34. An annular groove 48 is formed on the outer end of each of the pins 47 and is adapted to engage the end of: a coil spring 49, the other end of said spring engaging a fixed pin 50 which is preferably secured to the wall of the case 13, so as to continuously urge the roller 34 into contact with the cam surface 33. A cotter pin 51 extends diametrically through each of the pins 47 so as to prevent axial movement of the rollers 34 on pins 47. .y

y A lever arm 52b is formed on the bell crank lever 22 and the outer end of said lever 52 is pivotally connectedl by means of pin 53 `to la pair of connecting links 54. The opposite ends of the links 54 are pivotally connected Iby a pin 55 to a nutor crosshead 56 which is threaded to receive a screw 57, the latter. being rotatably supported at its ends in suitable bearings 58 and 59, formed inthe walls of the case 13. A handwheel 60 is provided with a handle 61 and is secured to an outstanding end of the screw 57. A collar 63 is secured to the screw 57 inside the bearing 59 so as to prevent axial movement of said screw as it is rotated.

Stop shoulders 64 .and 65 are formed inside the case 13 so as `to limit the rocking movement of the lever 22 as the screw 57 is rotated. Any othersuitable means for adjusting the position of the oscillating mem a bers may be used, such as a lever.

ln order to resiliently urge'the rollers 32,

into contact with the periphery of the cams 17, a lever 66 (Fig. 4) is formed with'ball i ends 67, each of' said balls engaging within a hole or socket 68 formed inthe inside surface of each ofthe levers 26. A spring rod 69 is provided with a bifurcated end 70 Lwhich is pivot-ally connected by a pin 71 to the center of the lever 66. The ro'd 69 passes loosesel ly through a hole 72 in the lever arm 52 and i is threaded at its outer end receive a pair of nuts 73 for regulating the spring tension.

rollers 32 to rock the levers 26 in alternation.l

Lever 66 between the levers 26 permit said levers 26 yto rock in alternation while the sprlng 74 constantly Vurges the rollers 32 into engggagement` with the cams 17. The cam sur#f faces 33 on levers 26 engage the rollers 34 on clutch llevers 46 so asto rock said levers 46`through avarying arc depending on the position ofthe pivot pin 25 in its arcuate path around the shaft 10; The screw 57 is rotated by handle 61 and acts through crosshead 56,' links '54 andleverarm 52 to adjust the position of pivot pin 25 and thus regulate the speed of rotation of the driven shaft 11. r1`he alternate rocking of levers 46 causes the balls 43 of eachofthe clutches 35 to -alternately wedge between the hardened bush` ings 39 and the spider 40and thus cause the continuous rotation of the shaft'll ,in a clookwise direction. In order to insure the rotation of shaft l1 at a uniform speed without an electric motor, and a slow speed piece of jmachinery which it is desired to drive with Aa variable speed. y

ll would state in conclusion, that while the illustrated example constitutes a practical 85 A coil spring 74 is supported on ,the rod 69 y embodiment of my invention, I do not wish to l1m1t myself precisely to these details,

since manifestly the same may be consi-derably varied without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

' Having thus described my invention, L claim as new and desire to secure by LettersV Patent 1. In a variable speed transmission, an input shaft and an output shaft, a plurality of cams secured to said input shaft, a pivotally mounted oscillating member positioned adjacent each cam, a roller rotatably mounted on each member and engaging a cam, a cam surface on said oscillating member, means operatively connected with said oscillating member for translating the pivot point of said oscillating member in an -arcuate path about said input shaft, and one way clutch means associated with said output shaft for engaging the cam surfaces of said oscillating members and causing a substant-ially uniform rotation of said output shaft.

Q. In a variable speed transmission, an input shaft and an output shaft, a pair of cams secured t0 said input shaft, a pivot-ally mounted oscillating lever associated with each' of said cams, each of said levers rotatably supporting an idler roller contacting with, the periphery of its corresponding cam, a connecting -bar vconnecting said levers with a universal joint, a single spring means associated with said bar for urging said rolllers into contact with said cams, andclutch means on said output'shaft` for engaging said levers and causing the substantially uniform rotation of said output shaft asl said levers are oscillated.

3. In a Variable speed transmission, an inmembers having cam surfaces, said members being pivotally mounted on said hub and having idler rollers engaging the peripheries of said cams, said screw being adapted for translating .said bell-crank lever in an arcuate path about said input shaft, and a pair of one way clutches on said output shaft engaging sald oscillating members and causing the rotation of said output shaft with a substantially continuous rotation whichl is adjusted by positioning said nut by means of saidV faces pivotally mounted on said elongated arm and having idler rollers'engaging the per1pheries of said cams, a spring associated 'with bell-crank lever 'urging said rollers against said cams, and a palr of one Way clutches on said output shaft, each'clutch having an outstanding rock lever rotatably supporting a roller,-'.engaging said camsurf face formed on the corresponding oscillating member. v

. 7HERBERT L. PROUT.

put shaft and an output shaft, a plurality of cams secured to said input shaft, a plurality of one way clutches on said output'shaft,

each clutch rotatablyv supporting anv idlerv I roller, an oscillating member. intermediate-a cam and its corresponding clutch roller, said oscillating ymember having a cam surface `for engaging said clutch roller, each oscillating member rotatably supporting an idler roller which contacts with the periphery of a cam, and screw means for bodily translating said oscillating members into a plurality of adlots.l

lio

j'usted positions about theaxis of said input shaft as a pivot so as to vary the speed of ro# tation of said output shaft.

4. In a variable speed transmission, an input shaft and an output shaft, a pair of cams secured to said input shaft in spaced relation, a bell-crank lever mounted on said input shaft between said cams for rocking movement, an adjusting screw engaging a nut, linkage between said nut and one arm of said bell-crank lever, a second arm of said lever l having an elongated, transversely extending hub on the end thereof, a pair of oscillating 

